News SSI Address Changes Now Handled on the First Call

On August 5, 2026, SSA announced call-routing improvements for people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Callers to the National 800 Number who need to change their address are now, in SSA's words, "connected directly to specialists who can complete these requests during the first call."

The agency reports meaningful results since the change took effect. "Since we started this process in early June, we've answered nearly 50,000 calls," with the vast majority handled "typically under a minute." SSA notes that "customer satisfaction has remained strong throughout this period." Routing callers to representatives with specialized SSI experience is intended to raise first-call resolution rates as part of a broader effort to make interactions "simpler, faster, and more effective."

The announcement was signed by Nick Perrine, Chief Communications Officer, and encourages community partners to share the information with their networks. More SSI program information is available at ssa.gov/ssi.

What this means for your practice

Address changes are a routine task that has never been routine for the people our field serves. Frequent moves, shelter stays, doubling up with family, and transitions out of institutions all generate address changes, and each one has historically meant a long hold time or a field office trip. A change that can be completed in a single call under a minute is a real improvement in access.

A few things worth keeping in mind:

• The National 800 Number is 1-800-772-1213, and the TTY line is 1-800-325-0778. 
• An address change and a living arrangement change are not the same report. For SSI, a move can also change the payment amount, since living arrangements and any in-kind support and maintenance a person receives factor into the calculation. When someone moves in with family, exits a shelter into permanent housing, or enters or leaves an institution, ask about the living arrangement as well and make sure it gets reported.
• Keep the reporting timeline in view. Changes are due by the 10th day of the month following the change, and late reporting is a common source of overpayments.
• Confirm the new address is one where mail is reliably received. With SSA moving to electronic notices and electronic payments, a current address plus an active my Social Security account together determine whether someone actually sees a time-sensitive notice.
• Add the address question to your regular check-ins with people who have been approved. A five-minute call now prevents a missed notice, a suspended payment, or an overpayment later.

Sources: SSI Address Change Service Enhancements